Firefighters from the Westminster, Vermont Fire Department were called to the scene of a house fire at 480 Westminster Heights Road in Westminster, shortly after midnight, Wednesday, February 11, 2004. The owner of the home awoke to a sounding smoke detector and a heavy smoke condition inside the home.
Firefighters arrived to find a two-story wood-frame dwelling with heavy fire on the first and second floors. A second alarm was transmitted, along with a request for two additional engines. Firefighters from Walpole, N.H., Bellows Falls, Vt. and Putney, Vt. responded to assist at the scene.
Upon arriving, firefighters initiated an interior attack in an attempt to knock down the body of the fire, which rapidly spread throughout the building in the walls. A tanker shuttle was organized, bringing water to the scene from a nearby water source.
Westminster Platform 1, a former FDNY Mack/Baker 75' tower ladder was set up to allow firefighters a stable platform from which to do ventilation and roof work.
Firefighters from North Walpole, N.H., Dummerston, Vt., and Saxtons River, Vt., covered stations in Westminster and Putney.
The fire, which is still under investigation, was brought under control shortly before 3 AM with mop-up keeping firefighters busy into the morning.
